Cheap London Hotels

The trick to finding value for less in London, or for that matter any major tourist hub, is scouting around in the off-season. Here are some good hotels that can be had for below $150 (nightly rate) during the off-season.

Comfort Inn Harrow – This three-star inn is located in the suburb of Harrow, near central London. The Comfort Inn is 13 miles from Heathrow airport. The inn has 73 modern rooms with satellite television, private bathrooms and hospitality trays. Nightly rates start at $68 per night. Children aged 14 and below can stay free with 2 paying adults.

EasyHotel – This hotel offers clean, modern (though tiny) rooms in Kensington, west London. Rates start at $35 per night. Daily housekeeping, TV and windows cost extra.

Rubens At The Palace – Just across from Buckingham Palace, this elegant hotel is reputed for its high-quality service. All rooms are air-conditioned and some come with breakfast. Situated near the Victoria Station, Westminster and the Royal Parks, the Rubens is available for nightly rates from $109.

Darlington Hyde Park – This townhouse hotel is centrally located, near Paddington Station and Hyde Park. This 40-room hotel offers special security and comfort for solo female travelers. The hotel has been awarded the RAC Sparkling Diamond Award, for high levels of cleanliness and hygiene in their establishment. Rates start from $85 per night.

Ambassadors Hotel – The hotel is located in a residential area in South Kensington, a short distance from the famous West End theatre. It provides easy and quick access to key London attractions, like the Royal Albert Hall, Victoria and Albert Museum, and the famous Harrods store. Heathrow Airport is just 10 miles from the hotel. The hotel provides Internet access, safe-deposit boxes at the front desk as well as dry cleaning services. Pets are not allowed. Standard double room rates start at $68 per night.

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London Tourist Attractions

London is one of the more historically distinguished cities of the world with its contribution to culture, the arts, music, architecture, and almost every aspect of classical and modern living. There are also many tourist locations in London, attracting thousands of travelers each year. Here are a few of those attractions that are a "must see" for tourists.

King George III bought Buckingham Palace for his wife, Charlotte, in 1761. The original reason for the purchase was for use as a family house. Since then, the Palace has undergone several renovations and has become host to numerous royals personas making it the most popular tourist spot in London. Today, Buckingham Palace serves as the main focal point of the Monarchy where it conducts its day to day business. It has elegant state rooms which are usually used by the Royal family and royal guests but are open for public viewing at certain times. Buckingham Palace is also renowned for the Changing of the Guard and the Horse Guards Parade.

One of the most famous London tourist attractions is Big Ben. This landmark is more than three hundred feet high and has four clock faces which measure more than twenty feet square. The minute hand of the clock is about fourteen feet long. On record, it is the world's biggest four faced clock which delivers chimes. There is a clock in Wisconsin that is larger but that clock has no chimes. This monument was named after Sir Benjamin Hall who was the first Commissioner of Works in London. Big Ben was also used as a prison for some political prisoners back in the late 1800s. This London tourist attraction is not usually open to the public and can only be seen from outside. Special permits can be granted by Westminster Council to allow some to go inside the clock. Big Ben is situated at the north-east part of the Houses of Parliament which was known before as the Palace Of Westminster. Big Ben is a London landmark which has been the subject of countless photographs and postcards, movies and magazine articles, has survived 2 world wars and has operated almost continuously, except for maintenance since it was built in the 1500s. The lengthiest maintenance down time was twenty years!

The Tower of London is located on the north bank of the River Thames. When most people think of the Tower, they identify with the White Tower built in 1078, where the princes were held as prisoners. The Tower of London is actually a complex of several buildings with 2 concentric rings of defensive walls and a moat. It has served as a place of execution, an armoury, a library, a zoo and the Royal Mint. There is a legend that if the resident ravens were ever to leave the Tower of London, the White Tower, the monarchy, and the entire kingdom would fall.

Close to the Tower of London is the Tower Bridge. It is actually a suspension bridge which allows boats to conveniently navigate the River Thames. Walking its high walkways is something most people want to experience when in London. The bridge is an all time tourist attraction but it was closed in the early 1900s because it became a notorious site for crimes. It is now open to the public once again.

These are just a few of the important London tourist sites which one must not miss when visiting London. There are a lot more London sites to see, such as the British Museum, Princess Diana's Memorial, Hampstead Heath and Kew Gardens. Travel agencies usually offer air travel and hotel accommodation package tours.

Brian Parkin operates a customer friendly online shop called Parkin's Patch (http://parkinspatch.com), which specialises in great value personalised gifts. There are over 1000 different products which can be personalised by imprinting a multicolour digital photo quality design, photo, or logo onto them. There is no minimum order and there are no shipping charges.

'When you're bored of London you're bored of life' - Poet Samuel Johnson

If you prefer to stay in a boutique hotel in London, then there are plenty of five star ones to choose from. Here are our pick of the top 5.

1. The K West Hotel and Spa is in Shepherds Bush, just a ten minute tube ride to Bond Street.

Close to Harrods and the Natural History Museum, this modern hotel has strong clean lines and the lobby is glass fronted, filling it with natural light. The tiny televisions studded in the walls of the lobby and corridors are just one of the many features of this luxury hotel.

Glass bricks in the Kanteen Restaurant enhance the vibes, and the sumptuous foods such as seared tuna complete the sensual experience. Imbibe a cocktail while seated on the leather sofas beside the open fire in the K lounge. Luxuriate in a Reiki Treatment or hot stone massage in the K Spa and sleep deeply in the wonderful beds. Dramatic yet peaceful colour schemes complement the expansive leather furniture and sand blasted glass in the bathrooms.

2. San Domenico House Hotel In Chelsea

Enjoy the excellent personalised service available at the San Domenico House Hotel in Chelsea. Each room here is individually themed using antiques from their personal collection. Featuring rare originals from the eighteenth century, the rich fabrics of the double superior rooms are a delight to behold. The marble bathrooms and chrome heated bath towel rails make life here pleasurable. Four posted or canopied beds are a feature in most rooms.

This fashionable fifteen room house has been converted from two Victorian houses and been awarded the best London B&B for the year 2008/2009 by the AA. With the tube directly across the road, it has easy access to anywhere in London. Have your pre-dinner drink or enjoy breakfast on the rooftop terrace, overlooking Sloane Square. There is no restaurant attached but Chelsea is at your doorstep.

3. Zetter Hotel

Constructed in 2004 the Zetter Hotel has only 59 rooms. It is a short taxi ride to West End and situated in Clerkinwell, on the edge of the financial district. The spiral staircase leads the eye up to the five story atrium where you gain access to the rooms.

While much of the old building has been kept, the young designers have made their mark with wallpaper, ceramics and artwork. Each room is designed with your comfort in mind. Cuddle up with duck-down pillows and enjoy the soft rain-like feeling of the showers. The rooftop studio has a large patio to rest in while you enjoy your drinks and with its large glass partitions, the suite has loads of natural light. If you prefer not to use the air conditioning, then you can snuggle up with a hot water bottle.

The Zetta Restaurant has fresh seasonal food with a modern take on Italian classics. This ultra modern hotel has all the hi-technology you could want with over four thousand music tracks to play for free. This cutting edge hotel is a feast for the senses.

4. Hazlitts, Soho

Another luxury, London boutique hotel to soothe the senses is Hazlitts. Situated in Soho, it is close to Covent Garden, Piccadilly and Bond Street. It was originally built in 1718 and renovated in 2006. It has kept some original quirky details and has genuine antique decorations, but unfortunately no lifts. Spread over three historic houses, Hazlitts sets out to provide comfortable rooms and genuine hospitality. Set in the middle of London's theatre precinct, it is popular with people from all over the world.

There is no restaurant attached but you are able to enjoy the freshly baked croissants for breakfast! Soho has numerous places to eat, just ask the friendly staff at the front desk.

5. Bingham Hotel, Richmond

If it is avant garde you are after, stay at the Bingham Hotel on Petersham Road, Richmond. This enchanting boutique hotel is set on the banks of the Thames, and its contemporary elegance and style is offset by its vintage Georgian architecture. Its fifteen rooms are each individually designed. Duck and goose down quilts are gorgeous to snuggle up under and each room is designed to create tranquillity and sensuous pleasure. The art deco furniture is complemented by every modern comfort available. The river rooms provide views of the Thames and a luxurious whirlpool bath.

The Bingham Restaurant and Bar provides delicious breakfasts, set lunches and fabulous dinners and sits alongside the Thames. The windows invite the tranquil scenery inside and the Bingham chef provides a sumptuous dinner menu and fantastic cheese selection to complete your meal.

There is a wonderful range of fabulous boutique hotels throughout London.

Karen Cooke is a professional consultant with Travel Associates, an exclusive Australian travel agency catering to the premium travel market. More helpful travel tips and suggestions are available at http://www.travel-associates.com.au

London is one of the great capital cities of the world and if you are going to visit it there are 5 great London tourist attractions that you simply c

Located in Bloomsbury, on the Guilford Street, WC1 and close to the Russell square underground station is a 3 star London hotel called the President hotel. The Hotel offers very competitive rates for its rooms and has become one of the popular hotels in the area for London tourists. It is one of the hotels which belong to the Imperial London hotels group which are all concentrated in the Bloomsbury district and precisely the Russell Square. Traveling from the property to all the terminals at Heathrow International Airport can be done without even the negligible difficulty because, the Russell Square underground is served by the Piccadilly line trains which run direct from Central London to the London Airport. It is one of the most sought after hotels in the Capital because of its prime location in the City center and the competitive rates which it offers.

President hotel offers its guest high standard of accommodation and high level hotel service and it no wonder that the hotel has repeat visits from guests from the United States, Canada and many travelers from Western Europe. Like all the other four 3 star hotels in the group, all the rooms at the President come with private en suite toilet and shower at least. Each room has a direct dial telephone and also a colour TV with remote control. Every room also has got coffee and tea making facilities. There are other amenities like trouser press, fridge and hair dryer which can be provided on request from the Hotel's reception.

The property has its own restaurants as well as bar where you can socialise with other guests or sit and chat with family and friends who are also guests of the hotel. It shares a day and night pub with one other hotel in the group called Imperial hotel. The pub operates until 1.00 am. The President hotel is just about two minutes walking distance to the Imperial. There are also a lot of eating places and bars in the area and guests of the hotel can also eat from outside. The night life in the Russell Square area it very entertaining. There is always someone at the front desk of the hotel to welcome guests because the hotel operates a 24 hour reception or front desk. The hotel's Concierge also works fro 24 hours and will be ready to assist guest who need help to organise their tours in Central London and other UK cities.

This Central London hotel is just a few minutes away from the Marble Arch and Oxford Circus as well as the Soho Area. If you decide to take a leisurely walk from the hotel to these destinations, it will take you about 25 minutes. The Piccadilly Circus, the Trafalgar Square and the Strand are just a short bus ride away. If you want to shop whilst in London and staying at this hotel, you are not far from the famous shopping streets in the United Kingdom; The Oxford Street, the Regent Street, The Bond Street and the Tottenham Court Road. You can easily access all other areas of Central London when you are staying in Bloomsbury because the area has an excellent transportation links to all the major areas of London.

When you are in the area, there are also many places of interest to visit. The University of London it very close to the hotel and so is the British Museum and the British Library. You are not far from the Covent Garden and Holborn. The Camden market and the Euston train station are all within your reach. The President hotel is indeed a place to stay in Central London.

Attractions You Can See For Free in London

Changing the Guard

One of London's most interesting and colourful ceremonies, the 'Changing of the Guard' takes place at Buckingham Palace and Whitehall. Dating back to 1660 the changing of the guard is essentially as the name states, where the old guard comes off duty and the new guard begins its shift. This is a ceremony not to miss, here you will see guards dressed in their bright red uniforms and bearskin hats, a familiar sight on postcards from London, and where you can experience the music, marching and shouting that characterises the ceremony. The Changing of the Guard takes place daily at 11.30am from 3rd April until 3rd August, and every other day at 11.30 am from 3rd August until 3rd April. If you want to get a good look make sure to arrive early!

Kenwood House

Kenwood House is a former stately home built in the early 17th century. Kenwood House was renovated for Lord Mansfield by the great Robert Adam and is set in a beautiful leafy parkland with stunning views over London. With magnificent interiors that include the wonderful masterpieces from Rembrant, Vermeer, Turner and more, beautiful landscaped gardens and views what better way to spend a fine day and escape for the hustle and bustle.

Bank of England Museum

The Bank of England Museum was founded in 1694 and the museum tells the story of its role from times past to today as the United Kingdom's Central Bank. A visit to the Bank of England Museum is well worth a visit and here you can see wonderful displays that include material from the Bank's own collections of documents, books, prints, paintings, banknotes, silver, coins and photographs. Please note that most of London's Museums and London Art Galleries are free too!

Go walk about

What better way to explore London city than on foot, explore the wonderful sights and attractions like Buckingham Palace, Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, Piccadilly Circus, St James' Palace, 10 Downing Street, The Thames, Trafalgar Square and Hard Rock Cafe, to name just a few and all it will cost you is time!

Mairead writes for Novacarhire.com - an independent car hire reservation website where you can book low cost car hire at over 5000 locations worldwide.

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Top 10 Must See Attractions in England

Big Ben

The name 'Big Ben' doesn't refer to the entire clock tower, only to the thirteen-ton bell that strikes on the hour. It has been suggested that the name Big Ben is derived from a popular heavyweight boxer by the name of Benjamin Caunt, however, the story today seems to be that it was named after Sir Benjamin Hall, a prominent politician at the time who was the Parliamentary Commissioner of Works. 2009 marks the 150th anniversary of the Clock Tower and the Bell.

Houses of Parliament

The Houses of Parliament, also known as The Palace of Westminster, incorporates The House of Lords, Westminster Hall and The House of Commons. You can visit the Houses of Parliament and experience the proceedings from the public gallery, take a tour of the buildings, or climb the Clock Tower!

The Tower of London

The Tower of London is, formerly both a royal palace and fortress, is actually the oldest palace and fortress in Europe. It's a huge landmark in England and a popular visitor attraction. The Tower is located on the banks of the River Thames and at the edge of the vibrant city of London City.

Bath

Bath is a wonderful city with much to offer. It's located in the Somerset countryside and as the name suggests it's home to ancient Roman baths (hot springs) that date back over 2,000 years. Bath is a vibrant city that'll keep you entertained from morning to night and it's only about 100 miles west of London.

Stonehenge

Stonehenge is a hugely popular tourist attraction. It draws thousands each year and fails to amaze its visitors. Stonehenge is an impressive prehistoric monument located in Wiltshire and belongs to the World Heritage Site.

Stonehenge comprises of earthworks that are surrounded by a large circle of tall standing stones and several hundred burial monuments. Some archaeologists believe that the iconic stone monument was erected around 2500 BC.

Wimbledon

Wimbledon is a suburb of London and is located just seven miles south west of Charing Cross. For the last century Wimbledon has been known world wide as the home of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships. Wimbledon has much to offer from great restaurants and cafés to shopping streets, centres and souvenir shops.

Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle is the oldest and occupied castle of its kind in the world. It's the official home of the Queen of England. Steeped in history it dates back almost 1,000 years. You can avail of a tour of the castle while you learn of the history. Please note opening hours vary and are subject to change.

Kew Gardens

Kew Gardens, also known as the Royal Botanic Gardens are one of the World's leading Botanic Gardens. The Kew Gardens are located beside the River Thames just 10km south west of Central London. Set on 300 acres of amazing landscaped gardens a trip to Kew Gardens is a must.

Westminster Abbey

Westminister Abbey is a wonderful example of a Gothic church located in Westminister. The Abbey is the traditional place of coronation and burial for English Monarchs. A visit to the Abbey is highly recommended and you can avail of tours and learn of the rich history from times past.

The Lake District

The Lake District, also known as The Lakes or Lakeland, is a rural area in North West England and is a very popular holiday destination. It's famous for its lakes and it's linked to the early 19th century poetry and writings of poet William Wordsworth.

Mairead Foley writes for http://www.Novacarhire.com/ where you can book car hire at airports, ferry ports, rail stations, cities and towns all over the world.